After the triple intervention of 1895, Japan implemented a foreign policy of "taking care of everything" and a China policy of "temporarily preserving China". From the early years of Meiji to 19 18, Japan's general foreign policy was to "leave Asia and enter Europe" and strive to become a "world power". The basic strategy is to bully the weak, make friends, invade Asian neighbors and squeeze into the ranks of European and American powers. At the same time, at different stages, there are short-term foreign policies and strategies that meet the needs of the situation. The result of the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894 was 1895. Japan defeated China and forced China to sign the treaty of shimonoseki in April1895. As a result, Japan's international status has been greatly improved, and it has become a hegemonic country in the Far East, initially achieving the goal of "leaving Asia and entering Europe". However, shortly after the treaty of shimonoseki was signed, the "triple interference" incident occurred, which greatly stimulated Japan and affected its internal affairs and diplomacy. 1On April 23rd, 895, envoys from Russia, Germany and France visited the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and formally asked Japan to give up Liaodong Peninsula. Russia also used force to support intervention. Several Russian warships sailed into Kobe and Zhifu (Yantai), which were designated as the approval points of the peace treaty, and made a gesture of refusing to intervene and immediately resorting to force (Note: (Japan) Shinsaburo: Japanese Diplomatic History, p. 283. )。 Although the Japanese military strongly opposed the return of Liaodong Peninsula, in view of Lu Haijun's inability to confront powerful enemies, the Japanese government had to express on May 4, 895 that it would completely accept the intervention of the three countries and abandon Liaodong Peninsula (Note: (Japan) Shinsaburo: Japanese Diplomatic History, p. 285. )。 The "triple interference" incident made the militarist and diplomat Ito Bowen strongly feel that Japan's military strength is weak compared with the western powers, so he thought that the urgent task was to expand the army and prepare for war and enrich the national strength. At the same time, we are also soberly aware that Japan is only a "second-class power" and is still in a relatively low position in the international community, so we must make appropriate adjustments in foreign policy and strategy. As a result, the Japanese government formed a short-term foreign policy and China policy from the triple intervention in 1895 to Eight-Nation Alliance's suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, that is, Japan's "all caution" foreign policy, with the aim of "retreating the national strength and waiting for the change of the current situation". At this time, Japan's specific diplomatic strategy is to coordinate or follow up diplomacy with European and American powers and try to find allies; As for China, we should try our best not to create troubles that cause western powers to interfere, so as to delay the division of China and temporarily preserve China. Because only the "balance of power" of great powers can maintain the existence of China, and Japan's strength at that time was not strong enough, so it was not good for Japan to carve up China immediately. (Note: (Japan) The Existence of Shouzi: The Reform Movement of 1898 and the Daily Public Opinion after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. See Institute of Modern History, China Academy of Social Sciences: Study on Modern History of Foreign China, Volume 7. )
Under the guidance of the foreign policy of "taking care of everything" and the China policy of "temporarily preserving China", the Japanese government adopted a silent and restrained attitude towards the activities of Russia, Germany, France, Britain and other countries in China from the end of 1897 to the spring of 1898, such as seizing the seaport, plundering the railway construction right and dividing the sphere of influence. 1997165438+10. In October, Germany forcibly leased JIAOZHOU Bay under the pretext of killing missionaries, and then obtained the right to lay the railway in Ji Jiao. 1in March, 898, Russia leased Lushun and Dalian Bay and obtained the right to lay the Middle East railway. 1 At the end of March, 1998, Britain proposed to lease Ahava to the Qing government, and the contract was formally signed on July1of the same year. 1in April, 898, France asked for the lease right of Guangzhou Bay and the right to lay a railway in Yunnan, and the Qing government immediately agreed (Note: The Draft of Modern History of China (III) compiled by the Institute of Modern History of China Academy of Social Sciences, pp. 255 and 256; (Japan) Nozaburo: History of Japanese Diplomacy, p. 299. )。 This series of events has greatly hurt Japan, which once ate this fat meat in Liaodong Peninsula and was forced to spit it out. However, the Japanese government did not protest against Russia, Germany and France, nor did it ask China for a lease, but remained silent and concerned. At that time, many Japanese newspapers criticized this attitude of the Japanese government. Japan magazine, the most nationalistic magazine, pointed out: "China returned Liao to Japan because he was harmful to peace in East Asia. There is no reason to tolerate such outrageous attacks on Russia, Germany and France, but the new cabinet (the third Ito cabinet) remains silent ... First of all, China should let the world know its position of fulfilling its responsibility for peace in East Asia. " (Japan,1898,65438+125 October, editorial: Continuation of Responsibility) (Note: Shouzi Village (Japan): The Reform Movement of 1898 and Japan after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895-1895-1895-1895-1895-1895-1895-1895-1895), see Institute of Modern History, China Academy of Social The newspaper, which has always tended to be neutral, also claimed that Japan had the right to protest against the three countries, and stressed that Japan must never withdraw its troops from Ahava. 1On March 4th, 898, Bao pointed out in the article "No Policy in Diplomacy": "It is precisely because the Japanese army was stationed in Ahava that the rampant attacks of Russia, Germany and France were stopped to some extent. If the Japanese army retreats, the consequences will be more serious than now. " (Note: (Japan) The Existence of Shouzi: The Reform Movement of 1898 and the Daily Public Opinion after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. See Institute of Modern History, China Academy of Social Sciences: Study on Modern History of Foreign China, Volume 7. 1On April 9, 898, the National newspaper published an article saying that in order to restore the balance of power, Ahava should be leased for a long time, and if Britain opposes it, it should be ceded to the other side of Zhoushan Islands or Taiwan Province Province (Note: (Japan) Shouzi Village: The Reform Movement of 1898 and the daily public opinion after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1898, see Institute of Modern History of China Academy of Social Sciences: Research on Modern Foreign History). )。 Ignoring these public opinions, Ito Bowen's government still adheres to the government's policies. When it's time to fight, ordinary people don't have to make irresponsible remarks. According to the established policy,1on April 22, 898, the Japanese government asked the Beijing government to issue a declaration not to cede Fujian. Although the Qing government accepted this request and issued a declaration on April 26, many Japanese newspapers considered this declaration worthless and continued to criticize the government's incompetence. (Note: (Japan) The Existence of Shouzi: The Reform Movement of 1898 and the Daily Public Opinion after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. See Institute of Modern History, China Academy of Social Sciences: Study on Modern History of Foreign China, Volume 7. )